Diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal tachycardia

Abstract

Paroxysmal tachycardia means rapid heartbeat that starts and stops abruptly, with the heart rate reaching 140–180 beats per minute and higher, while the rhythm of the heartbeat is usually preserved. The duration of a paroxysmal tachycardia attack can vary from several minutes to several hours, and in very rare cases it can last longer. Paroxysmal tachycardia is a variant of arrhythmia, and in some cases, it can also occur in healthy people, in particular, under the influence of stressful situations, with intense physical exertion, and the use of energy drinks. The organic nature of the disease can be associated with the pathology of the conduction system of the heart, damage to the heart muscle against the background of inflammation, intoxication and ischemia. It can develop after a myocardial infarction and against the background of congenital or acquired heart defects. An attack of paroxysmal tachycardia may be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, noise in the head, trembling in the body, precollaptoid state or even fainting. Depending on the location of the electrical impulse that causes an attack of tachycardia, it can be ventricular and supraventricular. The tactics of treatment and the further effectiveness of ongoing therapeutic measures depend on a correctly established diagnosis.